Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-26
BEAUTY IN THE WATER.
Ella Hketlvr Ri.ceX writes Spicy
L.t;ar al some Things she Saw.
Bathing Unbecoming for Women!
EHmiIisrities in the Water That Would
Not be Tolerated on Land-Froprie-
ri,s OF the Bath.

HPecis! Correspondence.
SPLITTER ISLAND HEIGHTS, n. I Aug
II, 1887 Fashion has decreed that
ocean bathing is No longer "the thing" to
do. We: SO hea}ihiul and iRvlgorating q
custom will De long in wholly dying cut.
Here 81 Shelter Island, where 200 cot
tages AMI two large hotels people this
little paradise with 6: least 500 souls
during the "season," the beach is well
crowded with merry bathers every fore
noon.
Sitting in the pavilion and watching
them sport in the briny wave. could not
help wondering why Mrs. Grundy, who is
so particularly critical in some things,
should hsve so long ignored TIE vulgari-
ties ci the ocean bath. Here men snd
women, young girls ard youths half nude,
and with the covered portions OF their
bodies plainly outlined by their clinging5
vet robes, mix and mingle and indulge
IN familiaritie5 which would not be toll
Grated on land.
a pretty young lsdy swan from the'
5eacl out 10 The diving pavilion yester
cay. Then SEE clam 3ered up on the p2-
vili0n with ten or twelve Others of both
seXes. Here, il full sight Of all the spec
tGtOrs on shore and al her COmpaniass
she lifted her short skirts trife aad 3D.
jpsted the elastic Of her l32g stocking,
which had become lo0sened with the
effort Of swimming. She did this with the
utmost nOnchslanCe; yet Just imagine the
sensation it would cause it she should
perform this same harmless little toilet
act on the verands, il presence OF the
same audience! She would be cut dead
hy every woman, and quite likely re-
qQestea to leave the hotel. Yet l doubt
If shy ore beside myself noticed or cor
mented on the little performance-tt is
suc2 Gn everyday occurrence. l do not
wish to seem hypcrCIitical, and l believe
| nave never been called over particular
or prudish, but l can't help wondering
why the same set is deemed proper in one
place end vulgar IL another.
Only last week heard youoG miss
declaring she would not dance with cay
friend. II don't Ike AMI wont tolerate
any ms1 IN such close proximity to me"
she said, "uRless he Is relative"
Yesterday I saw her swim 10 the shore
with o male escort Who was r9ta relative,
ciIt ~ NtNGLL-IA w t4J -l'4l l!J4l
&ocG deal more Of unpleasant familiarity
tD2n cry waltz ever contained.
She sat down in the saOd, and
her escort leaned on his elbow
close beside her. He wore single very
thln garment, which exposed his brawny
arms ard bony neck and unlovely ankles
AID feet. The single garment clung
close 10 his body, and displayed his en-
tire anatomy with unblushing distinct
ness. Her own pretty arms were bare TO
the shoulder, and as she sat Cufled up IN
the saud, one could gain a very pleasing
outline OF her graceful limbs and rounded
shape. But again / fell TO making com
parsons.
suppose" l said, mentally, "that
yourg lady should meet that young
gentleman in the halls of the hotel ar
rayed precisely as he is now-she would
run screaming to her room, indignant
and alarmed. If he SHOULD approach hei
in that attire or the lawn and attempt to
sit down beside her, she would call 8
policeman to arrest him. Queer, is moi
! III"
Some OF the young ladies who have
heard that bathing is not as fashionable
es It used TO be-unWilliug to be indie
pendent, yet more unwilling to abandon
the delight Of daily swim-choose sr
/ afternoon hour when other people are
mapping, and paddle about in pretty cos
tunes, with no male spectators, or g
least only an accidental one.
These were the young ladies who de-
/ ciared they would not be introduced to o.
dance with any strangers ct the hop giveI
in honor OF s yachting club recently.
Tlis led happily married matron tc
discuss the proprieties with me.
az like to see girls prudent" she said
"6ut it seems to me young people do no
have quite as good times as they used e
st these resorts. No matter how vel
recommended 8 young man may be, som
of these very particular girls declare the.
will not dance with eny one save al IL
innate friend.
"It is commendeole, 70 dopht-anl
yet" she added, with al arch laugh
"whY, shouldn't have been Johns wifi
to-day if had been so careful. I dance
with him the first night l met him, an
we found we kept step so nicely we con
clGded to glide through life together.
am sure young folks had better time !
those years than they do now, and
reSily don't thiuk any more misfortune
betell them than in these conventions
days"
Lest evening the children were dane
ing, end overheard 81 amusing CONVEX
sation between trio at the parl0r door
a tiny young gallant in long stocking
WAS begging two small belles-not owe
ten years OF ege-to let him irroduce
friend Of his-a nipe-year- boy, wh
nad arrived that day WITH his parents.
"OA, but we couldn't think OF dancin!
with him." said the two hsughty youn
misses. "We don't-we don't knoH
him st sll, you see"'
ooh pshsw, now-I say come-let'
make zip set and have good tine
pleaded the boy. Hes good dancer
AID he wants to get acquainted, 20
know"
"Well but really We cannot dance wit
such stranger" the girls insisted, an
went to my room to ponder over II
, wonderful prudence and decorum Of II
growing generation.
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.